Ukraine, Rheinmetall establish joint venture to repair military equipment
The Ukrainian Defence Industry, a Ukrainian defence joint stock company, and Rheinmetall, a large German arms manufacturer, have established a joint venture in Ukraine to service and repair Western equipment, Ukraine’s prime minister Denys Shmyhal said on Tuesday.
Mr Shmyhal said the newly established company will service and repair the equipment donated by Ukraine’s Western partners, as well as localise the production of leading Rheinmetall equipment.
The joint venture, Rheinmetall – Ukrainian Defence Industry LLC, was registered in Ukraine on 18 October.
"The establishment of the joint venture is, without exaggeration, a landmark event that brings cooperation between our countries to a qualitatively new level and will allow us to build the arsenal of the free world together," the Ukrainian PM posted on Telegram.
Rheinmetall produces a number of advanced weapons used by the Ukrainian forces in its fight against Russian aggression, including Leopard 2 battle tanks and Marder infantry fighting vehicles.
The German arms maker earlier floated producing tanks, ammunition, and air defence systems in Ukraine.